2 36 Samydacecz. \Casemia. 



with a projecting lobe, brownish-black; radicle immediately 

 beneath the central beak, whence it protrudes in germination. 



In tanks in the dry region ; rather common. Also in the moist low 

 country; very rare, e.g., Heneratgoda. Fl. Feb.; white. 



Also in India, Malaya, Trop. Africa. T. bicornis, L. f. of China, where 

 the seeds are much used for food, is perhaps a mere variety. 



The pectinate submerged organs cannot be considered as leaves (as 

 in Fl. B. Ind., following Wight) ; their position suggests a stipular nature, 

 and they are so called by Roxburgh, who has well figured and described 

 them (1. c), but there are real stipules also present with the young leaves. 



LVL— SAMYDACE^E. 



Trees or shrubs, 1. simple, alt., with very small stip.; fl. small, 

 regular, bisexual; cal. free or adnate to lower part of ov., 

 segm. 5 (or 4) ; pet. 5 (or 4), or o, imbricate, stam. 4-10, peri- 

 gynous, alternating and often connate with large staminodes ; 

 ov. superior or half-inferior, 1 -celled, ovules parietal, style 

 simple or 3 or 4; fruit a soft capsule, loculicidally dehiscent 

 by 2 or 3 valves; seeds usually few, surrounded by a fleshy 

 aril, embryo straight in axis of endosperm. 



Has strong affinities with Bixacece. 

 Pet. o. 



Fl. in axillary fascicles i. Casearia. 



Fl. in terminal panicles ...... 2. Osmelia. 



Pet. 4 or 5 3. Homalium. 



Osmelia and Homalium are confined to the moist region, the former 

 ascending a little into montane zone, to which Casearia coriacea is con- 

 fined. C. tomentosa occurs only in the dry region, and C. esculenta in all. 



1. CASEARIA,/^. 



Trees or shrubs, 1. alt, stip. minute, fl. small, in axillary 

 clusters; cal. free, deeply cut into 5 segm.; pet. o; stam. 6 or 

 8, with alternating staminodes, all slightly connate at base, 

 hypogynous; ov. superior, 1 -celled with several ovules, style 

 simple ; fruit half-fleshy, dehiscent by 2 or 3 valves ; seeds 

 few, surrounded by a red aril, embryo straight, in axis of 

 endosperm. — Sp. 80; 14 in Fl. B. Ind. 



L. glabrous. 



L. lanceolate or oval 1. C. ESCULENTA. 



L. obovate . . 2. C. coriacea. 



L. pubescent beneath 3. C. TOMENTOSA. 



